During his recent speech to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump made several statements that were found to be misleading or false. These claims covered a range of topics, including the Department of Government Efficiency, inflation, and immigration. Here, we provide a detailed fact-check of some of Trump's assertions.
President Trump asserted that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative led by Elon Musk, has “found hundreds of billions of dollars” in government waste. This claim lacks reliable support. As of the date of Trump's address, DOGE reported on its website that its efforts had saved an estimated $105 billion for taxpayers. However, this figure remains unverified.
DOGE listed approximately 2,300 contracts it claimed to have canceled, resulting in a total savings of around $8.9 billion. Additionally, it mentioned nearly 3,500 canceled grants, amounting to about $10.3 billion, yet provided no supporting documentation. The organization also indicated savings of around $660 million from canceled government leases. It's important to note that DOGE's public savings tally has been criticized for inaccuracies and has undergone revisions after media scrutiny, including CNN.
In his address, Trump incorrectly stated that DOGE identified government spending of $8 million for “making mice transgender.” The actual funding from the National Institutes of Health for projects involving hormone therapy focused on monkeys, totaling $477,121, aimed to study the effects of feminizing hormone therapy on their immune systems. The origins of Trump's $8 million figure remain unclear, raising questions about the accuracy of his claim.
Trump claimed that the US would “take in trillions and trillions of dollars” through tariffs on imports, a statement he has made previously. However, it is crucial to understand that tariffs are paid by US importers, not by foreign exporters. This often results in the cost being passed on to American consumers.
During his speech, Trump noted that “small-business optimism saw its single-largest one-month gain ever recorded — a 41-point jump.” While this statement has some merit, it requires context. If Trump referred to the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, the 41-point increase pertains specifically to the percentage of small-business owners anticipating economic improvement. However, the overall index experienced a decline in January, suggesting that optimism was not as robust as stated.
Trump characterized the Green New Deal as a “scam” he terminated. This claim is misleading, as the original Green New Deal was a nonbinding resolution introduced by progressive Democrats in 2019 and never enacted into law. Trump has not dismantled the major environmental legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden — the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — which aimed at climate and clean energy spending. Independent estimates suggest that the IRA, which costs over $1 trillion by 2032, actually saved the government $240 billion.
Trump claimed that he achieved the lowest number of illegal border crossings “ever recorded” since his return to office. This statement is inaccurate. While he could point to a reported number of 8,326 Border Patrol apprehensions in February, official federal statistics indicate that historical low encounters occurred in some months during the early 1960s.
Trump repeated his assertion that other countries have released individuals from their “mental institutions and insane asylums” into the US. There is no evidence to support this claim, and Trump's own campaign has not been able to corroborate it. Assertions linking this to a decrease in the global prison population have also proven to be inaccurate.
Trump accused President Biden of using his office to “viciously” prosecute him. This claim is misleading, as Trump's federal indictments were initiated by a special counsel, Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland. There is no evidence that Biden had any direct involvement in these legal proceedings.
In his address, Trump claimed that the Biden administration oversaw the “worst inflation in 48 years.” While the inflation rate did hit a 40-year high at 9.1% in June 2022, this figure does not represent an all-time record. Historical data reveals that the highest inflation rate recorded was 23.7% in 1920. Trump's portrayal of current inflation lacks context and does not accurately reflect the nuances of economic conditions.
Trump asserted that 21 million undocumented immigrants entered the US during Biden's presidency. However, data shows that there were under 11 million documented encounters with migrants, which included those expelled. Even considering the estimated 2.2 million “gotaways,” the total does not approach Trump's figure.
This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
